Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability among people of different age groups although older people suffer more than the younger ones. It is a disease that restricts movements of joints because of pain and swelling.
This disabling disease has been prevalent for thousands of years as was found in the bones of prehistoric humans, animals and even dinosaurs that appeared millions of years ago. It has hit famous personages such as Goethe, Alexander the Great, Charlemagne and Henry VI.
Arthritis is a joint inflammation in the body usually occurring on those weight-bearing joints like knees, lower back and hips. There are about more than a hundred types of arthritis that has been discovered, studied and treated.
Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis are the two major joint disorders afflicting millions of people all over the world. The difference of the two is largely the period on which symptoms may show.
Rheumatoid arthritis usually develops before the age of 45 marked by inflammation of the joints which is accompanied by changes of the substances found in the blood. As a symmetric disease it involves the same joints on both sides of the person. It affects almost any joint in the body but more commonly the wrists, hands, knees, foot and ankles. The symptoms of
Osteoarthritis appear at a later age usually around 50 where the cartilage of the bones that cushions them has been dried up or used. The wear and tear of this cartilage exposes the bones against each other and through friction produces intense pain. This disease is not as disabling as rheumatoid arthritis and is also known by the names, degenerative joint disease and hypertrophic arthritis.
Diagnosis of some of the existing types of arthritis is rather difficult as most of them have more or less similar symptoms. Proper diagnosis by the physician includes medical history, X-rays, blood tests and Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans.
Some types of arthritis afflict the spine mainly due to old age, trauma or injury and improper posture or poor diet. Common of these is the Ankylosing Spondylitis which is inheritable as the genetic marker HLA-B27 establishes a predisposition to it. An onset of lower back pains together with stiffness that lasts for weeks or months is one of its symptoms. Arthritis in the upper spine may be classified as Cervical Arthritis with symptoms as extreme pain and stiffness in the neck area. Degeneration of the spine or old injuries that has directly impacted the spine may cause the occurrence of Lumbosacral Arthritis or Lumbar arthritis. It affects the lower back or the pelvic area that cause pain and inability to move.
Gout is one of the ancient types of arthritis. It is a chronic disease which is caused by excess uric acid in the body that the kidneys may not be capable to dissolve. These acid forms sodium monourate crystals that collect in the joints which cause swelling and pain. Its frequent target is the big toe.
Infections from bacteria, viruses and fungi may also cause the joint disease called Sceptic or Infectious Arthritis. Symptoms include pain in one place of the body in cases where it is a bacterial or fungal infection accompanied by low to mild fever. Viral infections may cause aching of the whole body that may reside after the virus has run its course. With proper treatment this type of arthritis can be generally cured.
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